Building structure



P 1962 E. D. PlERl, JR 3,054,483

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 10, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet l 2 409 2540 \Tfii;;-=\-i;f- )l/ i""' n u l {aw I. I6?

war tin F F I I 5 z b. 2

INVENTOR.

EDMOND D. PIERI JR.

ATTORNEYS Sept. 18, 1962 E. D. PIER], JR 3,054,483

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 EFIGA.

INVENTOR.

EDMOND D.P|EFH JR.

a /[Z %/1M 4@ 44% 12 6/ 1 ATTORNEYS Sept. 18, 1962 Filed Nov. 10, 1958E. D. PIER], JR 3,054,483

BUILDING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 [III Ill/III]!!! 1/ II!!! I EDMONDD-PIERI JR.

BY I A 0 7 ATTORNEYS 3,654,483 BUHJDING STRUCTURE Edmond D. Pieri, J12,2661 Harding, Lansing, Mich. Fiied Nov. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 772,741 1tClaims. (Cl. 1834) This invention pertains to a structural buildingpanel which is especially adaptable as a roof, ceiling, or wall member.

It is an essential object of this invention to provide a leak-proofroof, ceiling, or wall structure assembled from a plurality ofstructural elements without the need of any of the conventional assemblyfasteners such as bolts, screws, rivets, or like members, and withoutthe need for any water proofing such as tar, mastics, or other types ofsealing compounds, and which provides for easy insertion or removal ofthe individual elements from assembled elements with minimumdisplacement of the assembled elements.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a building structureof the previous paragraph that is capable of supporting substantialweights and live loads with a minimum of structural material.

It is a further object to provide in such a building structure theproperty of easy size adaptation for any roof or wall coverage by simplyadding additional elements thereby simplifying construction,transportation, and manufacturing procedures.

It is another object to provide in such an assembly a built-in drainagesystem for removing accumulated water or other material from the roof orwall structure.

It is another object to provide in such a structure means for receivingadditional structural elements to provide a smooth interior panelstructure which presents a more attractive wall or ceiling member andalso provides a com partment for sound and/or heat insulating material.

It is another object of this invention to provide a panel formed of aseries of structural elements each having a web and two laterallyextending flanges to thereby form a channel-shaped cross-section, withthe flanges each having an indented groove formed lengthwise thereof;with successive elements facing oppositely and having overlappingflanges with the groove portions of the overlapped flanges being inregistry so that a structural panel is formed and each element isreleasably secured in the panel structure.

It is a further object to provide first structural elements withtransverse supporting ribs in their web portion with the ends of theribs being engageable with the ends of the adjacent oppositely facingelement flanged portions to hold the elements in a transverselysupported relation.

It is a further object to form each indented groove portion on theflanges of alternate elements in the above structure by bending theflange ends in a reverse direction to form an open loop which isprovided with a plurality of bending areas to aid in its insertion andremoval from a building panel in a lateral direction.

It is another object to provide on the flanges of alternate structuralelements a second indented groove placed between the web of therespective structural element and the first indented groove, to receiveouter flange walls and indented groove portions of a structural elementso that a building structure with a flush interior surface is provided.

These and other objects will become more apparent when preferredembodiments of this invention are described in connection with thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, partially broken away plan View of a roofstructure of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken at 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 2 showing the connection betweenthe ends of two structural elements;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 2 showing a facia member as it isconnected to an outer end of a structural element;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken at 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken at 66 showing the facia memberattachment to an element flange; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section similar to that shown in FIG. 5 wherein afurther series of structural elements are attached to a second indentedgroove in the flange of the outwardly facing structural element toprovide a flush interior surface.

In the drawings is shown a roof construction formed of three joined bays14, 16 and 18 each being formed of connected structural elements of thisinvention to form a completely water-tight, easily assembled anddisassembled structure requiring no conventional fastening or sealingmembers and having an integral drainage system.

Columns 2% support at their upper ends a plurality of longitudinallyaligned girders or beams 22 which in turn support thereabove a pluralityof longitudinally spaced, transverse beams 24 with two intermediatebeams 24 being downset a distance equal to the height of a supportedgutter member 25 later described.

Laid crosswise upon transverse beams 24 are a plurality of structuralelements 26 each having web portions 2$ and upwardly extending flanges30 having inwardly spaced lower portions 31 to form an upwardly openchannel joist. At the upper end of each flange 30 is an outwardly formedledge 32 terminating in a downwardly turned lip 34. Formedintermediately of each flange 30 is a longitudinal, indented uppergroove 36 and an oppositely indented lower groove 33.

Elements 26 are engaged and connected by a second series of downwardlyfacing structural elements 40 each of which has a web portion 42 and twodownwardly extending flange portions 44- each terminating in an openloop formed by reversely bending the flange end and having an inner loopside 46 and an outer loop side 48. Formed along each web 42 are aplurality of indented, transverse strengthening ribs 5%) having taperedend portions 52 (FIGURE 7) which ribs have the dual function ofstrengthening the web and engaging the downwardly turned lip portions 34at the ends 52, to hold the portions 34 against transverse movement.

The elements 40 may be assembled onto the elements 26 by a simpledownward lateral movement with the inner sides 46 of the flanged loopsliding over the inner sides of flanges 30 of adjacent elements 26,until they register with the indented grooves 36 at which time they arereleasably secured thereto. Also at this time the downward 1y turned lipportions 34 come into engagement with the ends 52 of the strengtheningand placement ribs to provide transverse stability to the panel or baystructure. Any element 40 may be removed from an assembled bay by simplylifting with the flanges 44 and the loop ends together with flanges 26being sufliciently yieldable so that minimum displacement of adjacentelements is effected. The loop sides 46, 48 are yieldable towards oneanother during an assembly or disassembly operation for further ease ofoperation.

Connecting and underlying the element ends along the inner sides of thebase 14, 16 and 13 are gutter members 25 each of which is an upwardlyfacing channel with outwardly turned supporting ledges 70. Gutter 25 issupported by the above mentioned downset beams 24' and in turn supportson its ledges the webs 28 of elements 26. Connecting extensions of theelement ends above each gutter 25 is a splined strip 72 which hasoppositely facing indents 74 for receiving extensions of the webs 42 ofstructural elements 40.

A bafile plate 76 is placed in the open end formed between the outersides of flange members 30 of adjacent elements 26 and the inner side ofweb 42 of the downwardly facing element 40, weather.

A facia member 80 is of a boxed cross section and has an upper securingmember 82 (FIG. 4) and lower securing member 84 outwardly formed from anopen side thereof. Member 82 is placed about the outer periphery of thebays 14, 16 and 18 to receive any water or other precipitation dischargeaccumulated in structural elements 26. Member 80 is secured to the endsof the structural elements 26, as shown in FIG. 4 by securing theextending member 82 to the webs 42 of elements 40 and securing the lowerextending member 84 between the webs 28 of elements 26 and the top ofgirder 24.

As mentioned, every third beam 24 is downset, the reason being toprovide support for the gutters 25 which to close the ends against theunderlie the ends of elements 26 and receive the water I or otherprecipitation therefrom. The downset beams 24' have a portioncorresponding to the height of gutter 25 cut from each end to form asupporting ledge 90 (FIG. 6) which registers with the top flange of theoutermost beam or girder 22. The facia member 80 is also adapted forattachment along the length of element 26, as shown in FIG. 6, withupper extending member 82 being secured along the flange 32 of theoutermost element 26 and lower extending member 84 being secured betweenthe web 28 of element 26 and the gutter 25 or the top of a beam 24 wherethere is no gutter.

As shown, the floor 81 of facia member 80 is disposed below the floor 69of gutter 25 so that water from the gutter may flow into member 80through the spaced open ings 83 formed in an inner wall and be carriedto a downspout (not shown) or other receiving means.

i In FIGURE 7, a series of elements 40 are shown inserted between theoutside walls of adjacent elements 26 with outer loop sides 48 inregistry with grooves 38. Lower portions 31 are inwardly spaced toreceive the outside dimensions of element 40. This provides a flushinterior surface and compartments for sound and heat insulation.

If desired, the construction shown in FIGURE 7 may be used in curtainwall structures and may have an insulative member placed across the baseor web of the lower channel sections 40 and insulation with a metalfacing panel superposed the upper channels 40.

What I claim as my invention is:

' l. A structural member comprising a series of separate substantiallyparallel channel members each having a channel base and a pair of spacedflange members extending laterally in a common direction from thechannel base, the flange members of successive channel members eachhaving longitudinally extending arcuate interlocking portions,successive channel members facing in opposite directions with the flangemembers thereof overlapping and the arcuate portions of the overlappingflange members interlocking to hold said channel members from separatinglateral movement, laterally extending means formed in the base ofalternate channels engaging the flanges of adjacent channels forpreventing transverse movement thereof.

2. A structural member comprising a series of separate substantiallyparallel channel members each having a channel base and a pair of spacedflange members extending laterally in a common direction from thechannel base,

the flange members of successive channel members each,

having longitudinally extending arcuate interlocking portions,successive channel members facing in opposite directions with the flangemembers thereof overlapping and with their arcuate portions interlockingto hold said channel members from separating lateral movement, alternatechannels having laterally extending ribs formed in the base thereof, theends of said ribs engaging the flanges of adjacent channels, the flangesof said adjacent channels having outwardly extending portions engageablewith said ribs.

3. A structural member comprising a series of separate substantiallyparallel channel members each having a channel base and a pair of spacedflange members extending laterally in a common direction from thechannel base, the flange members of successive channel members eachhaving longitudinally extending arcuate interlocking portions,successive channel members facing in opposite directions with the flangemembers thereof overlapping and with their arcuate portions interlockingto hold said channel members from separating lateral movement, theflanges of alternate channels having intermediate longitudinallyextending arcuate portions placed between the channel base and the firstmentioned arcuate portions 7 to receive a series of channels facing inthe same direction as the flanges of said alternate channels to providea flush structural surface.

4. A structural member comprising a series of separate substantiallyparallel channel members each having a channel base and a pair of spacedflange members extending laterally in a common direction from thechannel base, the flange members of successive channel members eachhaving longitudinally extending arcuate interlocking portions,successive channel members facing in opposite directions with the flangemembers thereof overlapping and with their arcuate portions interlockingto hold said channel members from separating lateral movement, theflanges of alternate channels having intermediate longitudinallyextending arcuate portions placed between the channel base and the firstmentioned arcuate portions to receive a series of channels facing in thesame direction as the flanges of said alternate channels to provide aflush structural surface, said intermediate arcuate portion beinginwardly spaced of the flanges of said alternate channels so thatchannels of the same width may be engaged at either end of saidalternate channels.

5. Building structure comprising a multiple bay supporting grid oflongitudinally extending girders carrying transverse beams in parallelspaced relation, a series of separate substantially parallel channelsextending between said beams in each of said bays, adjacent channelshaving oppositely faced bases, the bases of alternate ones of saidchannels being in contact with said beams, the flanges of adjacentchannels overlapping, longitudinally extending grooves in the flanges ofalternate channels, portions complementary to said grooves on the endsof the flanges of the channels adjacent said alternate channelsinterfitting with said grooves in said channels to inhibit separation ofsaid channels in a direction parallel to said flanges, and stiffeningribs on the base of the channels adjacent said alternate channels inengagement with the flanges of said alternate'channels to preventrelative movement between the channels parallel to the bases thereof.

6. The building structure as claimed in claim 5 including guttersextending beneath and between the ends of the channels forming adjacentbays adapted to receive drainage directly from said channels and furtherincluding closed drain members secured to the periphery of said buildingstructure and having bottoms lower than the bottoms of said gutters intowhich said gutters are connected for drainage.

7. Building structure comprising a multiple bay supporting grid oflongitudinally extending girders carrying transverse beams in parallelspaced relation, a series of separate substantially parallel channelsextending between said beams in each of said bays, adjacent channelshaving oppositely faced bases, the bases of alternate ones of saidchannels being in contact with said beams, the flanges of adjacentchannels overlapping, longitudinally extending grooves in the flanges ofalternate channels, portions complementary to said grooves on the endsof the flanges of the channels adjacent said alternate channelsinterfitting with said grooves in said channels to inhibit separation ofsaid channels in a direction parallel to said flanges, stifiening ribson the base of the channels adjacent said alternate channels inengagement with the flanges of said alternate channels to preventrelative movement between the channelsparallel to the bases thereof,second longitudinal- 1y extending grooves in the flanges of saidalternate channels positioned between the first mentioned longitudinalgrooves and the base of said alternate channels and Wherein the flangesof said alternate channels are offset toward each other between saidsecond longitudinally extending grooves and the base to permit assemblyof similar adjacent channels at each end of the flanges of the alternatechannels to provide a flush surface for and ducts within said buildingstructure.

8. A structural member comprising a series of channel members eachhaving a channel base and a pair of spaced flange members extendinglaterally in a common direction from the channel base, said flangemembers each having longitudinally extending arcuate portions,successive channel members facing in opposite directions and havingoverlapping flange members with their arcuate portions being in registryto hold said flange members from separating lateral movement, alternatechannels having laterally extending ribs formed in the base thereof, theends of said ribs engaging the flanges of adjacent channels.

9. Structure as claimed in claim 8 wherein said series of channelmembers forms a bay of channel members, and further including means forconnecting a plurality of the bays to form a structural unit, asupporting network of 6 beams and girders supporting said bays, guttermeans disposed between and beneath the channels of adjacent bays.

10. Structure as claimed in claim 9 and further including an outerperipheral gutter member attached to and underlying the outermost endsof said channels and said gutter means for receiving drainage therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS142,641 Mettler Sept. 9, 1873 999,533 Weitzel Aug. 1, 1911 1,933,394Shryock Oct. 31, 1933 2,180,317 Davis Nov. 14, 1939 2,234,799 Eason Mar.11, 1941 2,642,017 Cooper June 16, 1953 2,648,299 Iddings Aug. 11, 19532,680,503 Clarke June 8, 1954 2,814,999 Reeves Dec. 3, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS 338,382 Germany June 18, 1921 511,174 Belgium Sept. 1, 1952

